April in Paris

The worst of the worst was not the interview where I rubbed up against a freshly painted RED exiting the elevator door and unwittingly painted myself all red. (In more ways than one.)  No, it had to be the art director who flipped through my book in 1 minute flat and shook my hand before sending me out the door. Why did he even bother to open my book? 

I blame it on his age and position. He was at a top magazine and would probably be retiring in a couple years and has nothing left to prove. (He was only about mid-50’s.) I think, he has no more ambitions to challenge himself creatively.  He is lazy. Warning art directors: the older you are the more comfortable you seem to get using the same talent again and again.  It is similar in any profession really. Imagine an architect trained in the 1970s who still insists on using American Gigolo black ash and laquer white walls. (Hmmm. Actually that sounds rather nice…) 

What I learned? Challenge yourself, renew your vision or become old and simply efficient while counting the days to your retirement. You cheat yourself of a potentially stimulating creative dialogue when you dismiss other visual people too quickly. All proven experts in any field risk the same danger of acting old and dusty. He was exactly the same skin tone as his stacks of unfiled papers strewn about the tiny office. 

Most interviewers offered me a quite place to show my work. Some even offered me a coffee which was very thoughtful. The most organized art directors took the time for real conversation about page design and illustration at an alarmingly leisurely pace. I got to see their past page designs and learned about their recent challenges. It was extremely informative.

I really hope that I will get the chance to prove myself one day. I don’t think I am that far off. They loved my Nabokov drawings. Thanks Lila! 

Having shown my portfolio at the children’s book fair in Bologna, Italy I heard one message loud and clear. That message was do what you love to do. What would you L O V E a client to ask you to do? Then do that . Develop that. Up until that conference I did not even dare to express my love for motion. I knew that I have a penchant for comedy, mystery and color but to throw in a little mechanics and interactity makes me want to jump for joy.  So off I go. 

Gee perhaps I can make a pop-up comic book. That is all this world is missing. 

The same could be said about Bologna Fiere / Children’s book fair which showed off great and less great talent from all of the world. Here is a link for some work from illustrators submitting their work for our viewing pleasure. Notice the variety and how far some of it can be from our own cultural visual experiences.